Sofa bed



H. NOCK SOFA BED Jan. 15, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 18, 1960 ONTm:

INVENTOR. HARRY NOCK ATITORNEYS H. NOCK SOFA BED Jan. 15, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 18, 1960 ONTQZ ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 15, 1963 H. NOCK 3,072,926

INVENTOR. HARRY NOCK BY aw-1% ATTORNEYS.

H. NOCK SOFA BED Jan. 15, 1963 Filed April 18, 1960 Lil-I.

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5 Sheets-Sheet 4 mm vm OO- INVENTOR. HARRY NOCK ATTORNEYS.

SOFA BED Filed April 18, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 s Q 3 g N N g co (9 v I rr 8 Q Llco m INVENTOR. HARRY NOCK ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent Office 3,072,926 Patented Jan. 15, 1983 3,072,926 SOFA BED Harry Nock, 3726 Mount Vernon Drive, Los Angeles 8, Calif. Filed Apr. 18, 1960, Ser. No. 23,069 3 Claims. (Cl. -13) This invention relates to sofa beds, and is also applicable to chairs which are convertible for sleeping purposes.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a sofa bed wherein the mattress portion can be swung to a collapsed position with the foot section overlying the head section within a relatively stationary main frame and also to an extended position wherein the foot and head sections are on a common plane and the head section is somewhat elevated from its collapsed position relative to the main frame.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device wherein the backrest is elevated from the sitting or collapsed position of the mattress frame when the latter is extended to its sleeping position and wherein the backrest is freely removable from its association with the main frame and the mattress frame for the sake of compactness for storage and shipping.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for locking the structure in the sitting position and is not released until the mattress frame is moved through the first increment of its movement to an extended position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sofa bed which is capable of utilizing a full length mattress unit but which has only one bend when the mattresssupporting sections are collapsed to the sitting position of the device.

Still a further object is to provide relatively simple and easily shiftable lever means for moving the mattress sections and their supporting structure between their sitting and sleeping positions.

The above and other objects will more fully appear from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings.

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view through an embodiment of the device in its collapsed or sitting position with portions shown in alternate positions in full and broken lines;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with the mattress frames moved forwardly and upwardly in the initial extension movement;

FIG. 3 is a similar sectional view on a reduced scale showing the structure shifted approximately halfway to its fully extended position;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view with the mattress sections in the fully extended or sleeping position;

FIG. 5 is a plan view with the mattress sections extended and certain parts removed;

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view through the intermediate mattress section, taken approximately on the line 6-6 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 7--7 of FIG. 4.

The structure includes a relatively stationary main frame 10 having a rear panel 12, a front panel 14, and side panels 16 and 18. The mattress frame includes a mattress head section 24 having side members 26 whose rear ends are connected by a transverse angle iron 28 and whose forward ends are pivotally connected at 30 to one end of each of a pair of intermediate mattress frame sections 32 which lie at each side of the bed structure. The intermediate members 32 are connected by a cross member 34 having coil springs 36 supported thereby and extending upwardly therefrom to engage the under side of and support the central portion of a sheet of metal fabric 38. The fabric 33 is supported by tension springs 40 which in the mattress head section are connected to the side members 26 of said section.

The side panels 16 and 18 of the main frame 10 are provided with stationary horizontal straps 42. Pivotally connected at 44 to the rear end of each strap 42 is a bellcra nk lever 46 having a downwardly extending longer arm 48 and a generally forwardly extending shorter arm 50. The arm 48 of the bellcrank 46 is pivotally connected at 52 with the rear portion of each side member 26 of the mattress head section 24. The forward end of each of the side members 26 of the mattress head frame section is pivotally connected at 30 to an end of the intermediate mattress frame section 32.

A rearward mattress frame support 56 is pivotally connected at 58 to each of the mattress side frame members 26 intermediate the ends thereof. The support 56 is also pivotally connected at 60 to a link 62 which extends forwardly and has its forward end connected at 64 to the intermediate mattress frame members 32. The mattress side frame members 26 and links 62 with their pivots 58 and 60 and 30 and 64, form a parallelogram which permits the mattress head section 24 to swing upwardly and forwardly from the position of FIG. 1 to that of FIG. 4. In FIG. 4, the rear mattress support 56 is shown resting upon the forward main frame panel 14. For purposes of rigidity the rearsupports 56 at each side of the mattress frame are connected by an angle iron 66.

The mattress frame foot section 68 has side members 70 and a front cross member 72. The rear ends of the side members 70 are pivotally connected at 74 to'the opposite ends of the intermediate mattress frame member 32 from the pivotal connection 30 of said intermediate member with the rear mattress frame side members 26. Connected to the intermediate mattress frame member 32 adjacent the pivot 74 by means of a pivot 76 is a link 73 whose forward end is pivotally connected at to a front leg member 82. The front leg member is' also pivotally connected at 84 to the forward end of each of the mattress frame foot section side members 70. The pivots 74 and 76 and 80 and 84, together with the foot section side members 70 and links 78 and the intermediate mattress section 32 and front leg 82 provide a parallelogram structure for manipulating the front leg. When the frame is collapsed as in FIG. 1, the front leg 82 is shown in a horizontally disposed position. As the foot section of the mattress frame is swung upwardly and forwardly to its extended position the front leg 82,

the brackets 86 in the same manner as the front legs 82. When the mattress. frame sections. are in. the collapsed position of FIG. 1, the facing member 92 will rest upon the cross brace 34 which, in turn, rests upon the upper edge of the front facing 14 of the main frame. The facing member 92 is in the same vertical plane as the front facing 14 of the stationary portion of the main frame. When the foot section of the mattress frame is extended the movable facing member 92 is suspended in an out-ofthe-way position beneath the: mattress frame forwardly of the main frame and above the floor.

A link 94 is pivotally connected at 96 to each of the intermediate mattress frame sections 32 and extends rearwardly as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. A pivot 98 connects a-nintermediate portion of a lever 100 to the stationary main frame strip 42.. The upper end of the lever 16%) is pivotally connected at 102 to the rear end of the link.94. The lever 100 extends below its pivot 98 and has its lower end connected to a tension spring 104 by means of a pin 106. The rear end of the spring 104 is connected V to a pin 108 onthe lower-end of the vertical stationary strip 22 on the main frame.

A lever 110 is pivotally connected at 112 to the forward end of the main frame strip 42 and extends upwardly to a pivotal connection 114 with an intermediate portion of the link 94. The main frame side strips 42 and links 94 with their pivots 98,102, 112, and 114, provide a parallelogram unit for swinging the entire mattress frame upwardly and forwardly and also for swinging the mattress foot section 68 upwardly and forwardly relative to the mattress head section 24. When the mattress frame is in the collapsed position of FIG. 1, the spring 104 provides an acute angle with the lever 160 so that the tendency of the spring to swing the lever-100 in a counter-clockwise direction is overcome by the weight of the entire mattress frame and the mattress supported thereby; However, when the front facing member 92 is grasped andpulled'forwardly, the mattress frame sections will shift forwardly and upwardly about pivots 44, 98, and-112 and-the angle between the spring 104 and lever 1 -0.0 will increase, and even though the effective spring length is reduced, will exert a greater spring action on lever, 100 to assist in further swinging of the mattress frame sections to their extended positions.

There. is illustrated: a backrest 116 comprising side panel members 118 and 120, rear cross members 122 and 124 and a front cross member 126. The lower portions ofthe backrest side panels 120 are provided with plates 128 which extend forwardly of said panels 120 and are provided with downwardly open notches 130 to receive pins 132 at the extremities of the shorter bell crank arms 50. When the mattress frame is shifted from its collapsed to its extended position, the bellcranks 46 will swing in a clockwise direction and their arms 50 will move the backrest 116 in an upward direction. At the upper rear portion of eachmain frame. side panel, 16 is a bracket 134. which extends upwardly and is provided with a roller 136. When the backrest is in its lowered position the roller 136 supports the side panels 120 at shoulders 138. When. the. backrest is elevated by the bellcranks 46'the rollers will bearagainst rearward vertical edges 140 of the backrest panels 120 and as the backrest approaches its upper position the rollers 136 ride against diagonal edges 142 on the panels 120. In the fully extended position of the mattress sections the backrest 116 rests upon the bellcrank pins 132 and the rear portion of the bottom edge 144 of each backrest side panel 120 as shown in FIG. 4.

Means" is provided for locking the mattress sections in their collapsed position so the structure will be held rigidly for sitting purposes. This means includes a bracket146 on each of the mattress foot section side members 70.- As shown in FIG. 5, the brackets 146 which outwardly offset free ends are provided with V-shaped notches 150. which receive. locking pins. 152 extending laterally from the extended end portions of the notched plates 12Son the backrest side panels12i With the pins 152 seated in the notches the mattress foot section 68 cannot be swung upwardly until the mattress sections are pulled slightly forward to disengage the notches 150 from the locking pins 152.

This locking arrangement does not secure the backrest 116 but it is unnecessary to lock this in position since the mattress foot section 68 is held against upward movement and the backrest will remain in position of its own weight. However, it is possible to freely lift the headrest upwardly since there is no positive connection between the headrest and either the main frame 10 or the arm 59 of the bellcrank lever 46.

The mattress itself is indicated at 154 and is shown in broken lines to indicate its relationship to the mattress frame sections in the collapsed and extended positions thereof. A seat cushion 156 is shown in broken lines in FIG. 1. It is suitably supported across the upwardly disposed side members 70 of the mattress foot section in the collapsed position. In order to grasp the movable facing member 92 to extend the mattress sections the seat cushion 156 is removed and the inwardly disposed top 93 of the movable facing member 92 provides a hand grip by means of which the operation can conveniently be performed.

It should be understood that various changes can be made in the form, details, arrangement, and proportions. of the various parts without'departing from the spirit and scope of-the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A sofa bedcomprising a relatively stationary main frame, a sectional mattress frame supported by the main frame and shiftable from a collapsed position substan. tially within the main frame to a horizontal extended position at least partially outside of said main frame, a backrest movable relative to the main frame and the mattress frame from a lowered seating position with its lower portion approximatelyat the height of the collapsed mattress frame to a raised sleeping position, and a backrest elevating crank lever pivoted to the main frame, said lever having a long throw portion pivotally engaging the mattress frame for movement thereby when the mattress frame is shifted, said lever having a shorter throw portion engaging the backrest and shiftable upwardly when the mattress frame is extended to elevate the backrest to a position with its lower portion above the height of the extended mattress frame and at the upper rear portion of the main frame.

2. A sofa bed comprising a relatively stationary main frame, a sectional mattress frame supported by the main frame and shiftable from a collapsed position substantially within the main frame to an extended position at least partially outside of said; main frame, a backrest movable relative to the main frame and the mattress frame from a lowered seating position to a raised sleeping position, and a bell crank pivotally secured at its fulcrum to the main frame, said bell crank having long throw arm engaging the mattress frame for movement thereby when the mattress frame is extended, said bell crank having a shorter throw arm engaging the backrest and shiftable upwardly when the mattress frame is extended, to elevate the backrest to a position at the upper rear portion of the main frame.

3. A sofa bed comprising a relatively stationary main frame, a sectional mattress frame supported by the main frame and shiftable from a collapsed position substantially within the main frame to an extended position at least partially outside of said main frame, a back-rest movable relative to the main frame and the mattress frame from a lowered seating position to a raised sleeping position, a backrest elevating device associated with the mattress frame for movement thereby and having a portion in engagement with a portion of the backrest, one of said engagement portions of the elevating device and the backrest having a detent thereon, and the other of said engage- 1,105,928 Rusnak Aug. 4, 1914 rnent portions having an open-mouthed detent-receiving 1,288,529 De Does Dec. 24, 1918 portion to interconnect the elevating device and the back- 1,383,485 Richardson July 5, 1921 rest, the backrest being freely liftable from the elevating 1,885,812 Fichtenbaum Nov. 1, 1932. device and the main frame. 5 2,604,141 Maurer July 22, 1952 2,661,485 Gursky Dec. 8, 1953 References Cited in the file of this patent 2,746,520 Ducrot May 221 1956 UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 996,243 Hwy --J11I1e27,191110 1,139,367 France Feb.11, 1957 

2. A SOFA BED COMPRISING A RELATIVELY STATIONARY MAIN FRAME, A SECTIONAL MATTRESS FRAME SUPPORTED BY THE MAIN FRAME AND SHIFTABLE FROM A COLLAPSED POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY WITHIN THE MAIN FRAME TO AN EXTENDED POSITION AT LEAST PARTIALLY OUTSIDE OF SAID MAIN FRAME, A BACKREST MOVABLE RELATIVE TO THE MAIN FRAME AND THE MATTRESS FRAME FROM A LOWERED SEATING POSITION TO A RAISED SLEEPING POSITION, AND A BELL CRANK PIVOTALLY SECURED AT ITS FULCRUM TO THE MAIN FRAME, SAID BELL CRANK HAVING LONG THROW ARM ENGAGING THE MATTRESS FRAME FOR MOVEMENT THEREBY WHEN THE MATTRESS FRAME IS EXTENDED, SAID BELL CRANK HAVING A SHORTER THROW ARM ENGAGING THE BACKREST AND SHIFTABLE UPWARDLY WHEN THE MATTRESS FRAME IS EXTENDED, TO ELEVATE THE BACKREST TO A POSITION AT THE UPPER REAR PORTION OF THE MAIN FRAME. 